Combination lock



l July 28, 1931. J. E. LEARY .1,816,382

COMBINATION LOCK Filed June 211927 2 Sheets-Sheet l f mmm Jaan; i1-Lamy .1'. E. LEARY COMBINATION LQCK Filed June 21, 1927 July 28, 19.31.

2 Sheets-Sheetv V2 Sme/nto@ Jaim E. Leary r latch.

Patented `Jllly 28, 1931' l v JOHNEDWARD LEARY, or' EITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIGNoR or ONE-HALF `'ro EDWARD J..CROWSKO1\T, OF FITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS Application, filed J une 21,

' The present invention relates to locks of the permutation type, and is particularly adapted for use Where a handle or knob'is employed for operating the latch'. l

p It is an important object oftheinv'ention that'the spindle uponvvhichA the handle is mounted is made slidable With respect to the other portions of` the lock and closures, whereby a very simple andV practical lock ing structure may be provided.

Theinvention may be applied tolatch structures already in use and Without any material change in the closures With Which it Will be used. l i f It is a further important feature of this invention that all of the loperating parts are enclosed and arevpso positioned that a minimum' of vvvear ,Will result. Inkother Words, the locking elements, Yas Well as'the portion ofthe stem with Which they are engaged, is concealed by being suitably housedy whereby' dirt and other fmatterf Which might tend to clog the lock are preventedfrom en-vr tering the essential working parts."

Referringto the drawings: y Figure 1 is a front vievvfshowing the structure in place upon y'a closure.A

Figure 2 is a rear view.

Figure `3 is a sectional View showing the invention With the lock in unlockedY position. Figure 4 is a similar vievv showingrthe inA vention With'the lock in locked position. Figure 5 is a view partly in'section, of the operating lever which serves to actuate thev Figurer 6 is a sectional View of part of the lock structure. j

"Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of the y lock structure, and

Figure 8 is `a detail view ofthe handle Stem Y' l..

In the drawings I-have illustrated my invention vvin one of its-embodimentsas applied to the usual yautomobile door llocking Y ing therethroughfor receiving the handle.

mechanism.

10indicat-es the door, and 11r the openstem vork spindle 12 to which' is attached, in any suitable manner,'a' handle 13.

" The construction of theha'ndle Stem :01'y

Within the recess 22 through the spindle'v Will noW be described.l yIt Will be observed Athat at -one With a circumferential groove 14. Adjacent this groove the'stem or spindle'issquared as shown in 15 in Figures2-and 3.r Extending Within the'rsquared portion and on 'one side ,end it is-provided y thereof is a groove 16 communicating With l the groove 14 and terminating atitsfopposite end Within the squared portionp The squared portion' is of less diameter'l than the adjacent barrel of the stem, and 'adjacent the opposite end of this barrel vportion isY provided a relatively large' circumferential groove 17. 18 isy formed in the'handle stem or spindle asashovvn, and the intermediate portion vof.

the stem is providedv With a longitudinal groove 19 communicating With thev grooves 1 7'and18. Y

The .lock structure is attached yto the closure and positioned through the medium of afacingmember 20 as shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 andl 7.l This facing member is attached tothe outside'of the 'door as shown infFigure 1, and is preferably segmental.

Referring to `Figures l3, '4: and 7-it will be seen that ,the segmental member is pron vided Vwith an opening 21 for the passage of A second circumferential groove Q i the spindle 12and concentricvvith said open- 'I `ing andin the frontv face of .thesegmental member is providedl a circular recess 22.v

This'recessis relatively deep and acts` as a housing. y V

The segmental member is provided with circumferential openingsY and one Wall of its recessv is *cut avva'y.- vFrictionally Y posi-A tionedy throughrthev said openings is apin 23 Which'has; a portion ofits length exposed,` cut away portion in the vvallv ofthe recess. The purpose of this Will be presently described, 'ref-5 tumbler sfnaturally positioned inthe recess tumbler Y 26. It will here bestated y 1 that as shownvin Figures Gand 7, the outer 22 of the segmental member and is maintained in position therein by the engagement of the pin 23 having a portion of its length disposed through a cut away portion in the recess 22 and engaging in the circumferential groove 26 of the outer tumbler 24. This Will permitI the outer tumbler' to be rotated with respect to the segmental member While maintaining the two members against longitudinal movement with respect to each other. This Will be understood upon reference Figure 7 as Well as Figures 2 and 3. The tumbler 24 has a relativolj,7 largel bore and interiorly thereof at one end is cut away to provide a circumferential groove 27. The grooves 26 and 27 of the tumbler member are preferably concentric, although this is not necessary.

It Will be noted that the tumbler member ris provided with an opening 28 for a purpose which. will be later described.

As stated, the tumbler member is provided with a relatively large bore Within which is received the inner tumbler 29. Referring to Figure 7, it will be seen that the inner tumbler is housed also for a portion of its length Within the recess 22 of the segmental' member. This inner tumbler is of smaller diameter at one end Where it is threaded, as shown at 30. At its opposite end said inner tumbler is provided with an opening 31 which is threaded to receive a pin 32. This pin has its inner end projecting beyond the inner periphery of the tumbler 29, as shown at The pin `32 by means of its projecting end 33 serves to maintain the inner tumbler in sliding position upon the spindle, the said pin engaging in the grooves 17,v 18 and 19 for this purpose.

It Will be seen that in this manner the inner tumbler cannot be unseated since the projecting end of pin 32 Will be guided Within said grooves, or relative movement of the lshank and tumbler Will be controlled.

The stop shoulder 25 on the .outer tumbler,` it will e seen, engages the shoulder' 34 at the threaded end of the inner tumbler to maintain the tumble-rs in. proper position.

It will noted that the inner tumbler is: provided with a second opening `35 for a purpose which will also be described. in connection with the opening 28 in the outer tumbler.

Threaded upon the portion 30 of theV` inner tumbler isl a ring member 36 which is Vsecured-in fixed position to said inner tumbler by means` of a screw 37, as shown, with its adjacent end abutting the end of the outer tumbler. Secured tothe handle stem in fixed position adjacent the handle isa second ring Amember 38 which is held vfixed `to the handle by means of a screw 39. The partsare shown in their relative positionsy in Figures 3 and 7.

As previously stated, the outer tumbler is positioned Within the recess in the segmental member and may have rotary moveprojecting end of the pin 32 on the inner Y tumbler,l that said spindle may be slid past the pin by reason of its groove 19.

j Disposed in the circumferential grooves 17 and 18 ofthe handle spindle is a detent or ball 4.0. This ball cooperates with the openings 28 and 35 in the tumblers as Well as with the internal groove 27 in the outer tumbler. As previously stated, the handle is adapted to slide with respect to the segmental member and closure, and the associated tumble-rs 24 and 29 and ring member 36. klVhen theA two openings 28 and 35 are in alignment, they provide a sufiicient depth so that the ball may ride therein over the spindle of the handle, that is, the greatest diameter of the spindle may slide freely with respect to the tumblers.

Referring to Figures 2 and 5 'Whereinthe device is'y shown applied to anautomobile door, it Will be seen that the usual interior operating lever 41 is provided for releasing the latch 42, theI said lever being acted upon by a spring projected member 43. The` end of the spindle opposite the handleis extended through the door or closure 1()` and there is fitted to its inner end an operating lever44. This operating lever is provided With a square-d opening 45 at one end, and at its other end, is forked, as shovvn at 46 to engage the operating lever 41. The lever 44 is secured -to the shankk byf means of a pin 47 having its end 48 projecting into the circumferential groove 14. j

It will be understood that the levers 41 and 44 are aligned with respect to' each other so that the spindle is adapted to slide Within the squared opening of the lever 44.

This sliding move-ment is permitted by reason' of the pin 47 When the door is unlocked, engaging in the groove 16 whereby the squared opening of the lever 44 will slide onto the squared portion 15 ofthe spindle and turning of the handle `vvill operate the lever 44 to throw the lever 41 and release. the latch so that thedoor may bev opened. Y

The spindle when Withdrawn from the squared opening, to the limit of its movement, brings the circumferential groove 14 in alignment with the pin 47 so that turning of the handle Will have no effect upon? the operating lever except the parts will rrotate relative to eachother. This isA the condi-V tion when the device is locked. i

v The segmental member is provided with lation with the fixed indicator on the Vseg-V mental member and` the'particular number or letter upon theffixed ring 38 which has been set. It will be yunderstood thatl the fixed ring can beadjusted for various combinations upon' the "spindley byv means of the screw7 89. In this position the handleshank can be slid forward releasing the lever 44, as previously described.

In order to unlockthe device, presuming that the handle has been pulled out, it will be noted that the pin 31 is within the groove 17 while the ball 40 is also in the said groove and in the hole of the inner tumbler. It is also presumed that the inner tumbler has been given rotation so as to bring the pin 31 away'from the slot 19 and inthe groove 17. Y In this position the tumblers are freely rotatable, but the inner tumbler will not Apermit the shaft to slidefbecause he pin cannot pass out of the groove 17 unless it is properly brought in alignment with the groove 19.

I es.;

Also the outer tumbler having been given a twist, its opening v28 is outvof alignment with the opening 35 and groove 17 so that the ball cannot projectoutV of the opening. In this position, as stated, the outer tumbler is rotated with respect to the inner one,ybut cannot move longitudinally with respect to the inner tumbler because .although the ball is engaged in the'groove 17 and. opening 35 of the inner tumbler, it also engages within the groove 28 on the inner circumference of Thus while the outer tumbler, the engagement o the ball in the groove 28 of the outer tumbler serves to prevent relative longitudinal movement. Y

It is, therefore,` necessary to bring the several tumblers into proper position in accordance with the combination, in which position the pin of the inner tumbler will be in the groove 17 opposite the longitudinal groove 19. At the same time the openings 27 and 35 in the inner and outer tumblers will be in alignment. Then it is only necessary to push the handle in ywhence the pin 32 will slide through the groove 19 as the handle is pushed in andthe ball will pass up into the openings inthe inner and'fouter tumblers which are deep enough to contain itso that the handle may be slid completely forward to bring the squaredopening of the lever 44 into engagement with the squared end'ofthe'spindle. f

In this position the pin 3l is in the groove 18 and by'rotating theinner tumbler andthe 'outer'tumbler with respect-to it, the parts will be in -a'position where the'ywill remain unlocked. until rfurther required. It will be seen, therefore, that the. invention will not interfere with operationofr the door from the inside in either its Llocked or .unlocked position `and that it may be 'so fixed when in unlocked position as'to permit the door to be used as usual. f f

. In Aorder'to lock the door, that is, so that it ycannot be operated'from the outside, the combination is set as before bringing the pin 32 into alignment with the groove 19 and theY ball receiving openings are in alignment over'the vgroove 18. In this position the spindle .may be slid out', to disengage the lever 44 from the squared portion ofl the shank and permit its freejrotary vmovement in the groove 14 by reason of the pin 47 In ythis position the pin 32 is, as previously described, in the groove 1-7 and the ball receiving openings are in alignment, but theball isreceived withinthe groove 17 and theIk opening of the adjacent inner tumbler..l Thus, as inf the .unlocked Vposition; the two tumblers 'may `be yrotated* `with. respect to each other to bringfthe yball receiving 'openings'outof'alignment and to bring the pin *31 away from the groove 19.

The inventionds a Yvery simple-one and while I have. illustrated itin connection with an automobile door, I dolnotfv wishVV to be limited to this application ,because theinvention may be applied: in practically every casewhere a lock structure is needed. a f

What-Iolaimlis:

1.: A lockingstructure comprising a 4stem,y

relatively movable tumblers associated-there'- with,.one of said tumblers carrying van' .ele-

ment Aadapted -to lock .the r stem a ainst slid-'- ing movement in one position oft e; element,

' a secondv looselycarried element associated with said tumblers and adapted to .prevent sliding movement of .thefstem relative to said tumblers in one position of said second element, said elements being lreleasable for movement with relationto said stem whereby saidstem may have-sliding movement with respect to said tumblers.-

y 2. A locking structure comprising a ste-m," tumblers associated therewith and rotatableY thereon. relative .toA each other and tothe stem, voneof said tumblers carrying'an ele-v ment cooperating with said stem, a secondY element,l cooperating with said stem VandL tumblers, theiother tumbler having, an openf ing cooperating with an. openingin thef'tirst mentioned tumbler' whereby when the element carried by said first mentioned tumbler is in position relative to said stem and the openings yin the respective tumblers are in alignment, the said elements will permit sliding movement ofthe stem.

3. A locking structure comprising ya stem, tumblers associated therewith, one of'said tumbler-s having an opening therein and carrying an element cooperating with said stem, the other tumbler receiving the first mentioned tumbler and being provided interiorly with a groove, an element cooperating with said stem'and tulnblers and in one position of said last mentioned element preventing sliding movement ofthe stem withk relation to the tumblers by reason of the engagement of the' element in said groove, said second mentioned tumbler havingy an opening cooperating with said first mentioned opening `whereby when the first mentioned element is in proper position relative to said stem and said openings are in alignment, sliding movement of the stem with relation to the tumblers will be permitted. f

4. A locking structure comprising a stem, locking means associated therewith for permitting sliding movement of the stem in one position of said means and preventing sliding movement in another position thereof, one end of the stem being provided with a groove extending longitudinally thereof and communicating with asecond groovey circumferentially of the stem, an operating lever associated with said end of the stem and carrying a pin which is guided in said grooves whereby in one position of its sliding movement the stem is freely movable with respect to said lever.

5. A locking structure comprising a stem, locking means associated therewith for locking the stem against sliding movement in one position of said means and permitting sliding movement of the stem in another position thereof, said stem being provided withasquared yportion at one end,- and a lever adapted to actuate a latch movable with the stem when said stem is rotated in one position of its sliding movement and freely movable with relation to said stem in another position of the sliding movement thereof whereby the latch will not be actul ated.

6. A locking structure comprising a stem having grooves therein, tumblers arranged on said stem adjacent saidl grooves, elements associated with saidY tumblers and cooperating with said grooves yto prevent longitudinal movement of the stem with relation to said tumblers, and grooves formed in said stem communicating with each other and extending in opposite directions, and an operating lever carrledbythe vstern and hav` ing means engaging in said last mentioned grooves.

7. A locking structure for doors comprisi ing a spindle and latch means associated therewith, a handle at one end of the spindle exteriorly of the door, an operating lever interiorly of the door and associated with said latch means, a second lever associated with said spindle and adapted to engage said rst lever to retract said latch means, and looking means associated with said spindle for selectively permitting and preventing operation of said second lever by the handle exteriorly of the door, the said first lever being at all times operatively associated with the latch means to permit opening ofthe door interiorly thereof.

In testimonyv whereof I have hereunto set my4 hand.

JOHN EDWARD LEARY. 

